Best security camera system for your business in 2020

Our top picks for an IP or CCTV camera to secure your home or office.

The best business security camera systems can act as a deterrent to potential thieves, but if the worst does happen and your business is broken into, you will have evidence that will help you claim on your insurance, and even hopefully get your stolen items back.

These security cameras should also be easy enough to install and use that you don’t need to fork out for expensive expert installation, and many can work with existing CCTV and CCTV DVR systems you may already have set-up. Many of the  business security cameras are Wi-Fi enabled and come with their own apps, so you can view footage on your smartphone or tablet, no matter where you are in the world.

It means you don’t need to pay for a security team to watch the footage at all times (though if you can afford it, that won’t hurt), and you don’t need a networked video recorder. Any motion-triggered recordings can be saved in the cloud, or locally on a microSD card.

By using a smartphone as your interface, many new features are made possible. For instance, you can draw areas of active motion sensitivity within the camera’s field of view to limit the number of alerts that arrive on your phone, and some of these cameras have object recognition and can tell the difference between a person and an animal, or a car.

The most significant thing that these new IP cameras have in common is their accessibility. None of our top 10 selection require a professional installation and they all come with slick companion apps that make protecting your property easy and, if we’re honest, kind of fun.

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1. Netatmo Presence

Type: Outdoor IP camera | Resolution: 1080p | Footage recording: Local/cloud | Audio: One-way

Netatmo’s sophisticated outdoor camera cum security light is expensive, but it has a lot to offer. As well as carrying out 24-hour surveillance in Full HD, it also acts as a security light whenever motion is detected. What’s more, it can differentiate between the movement of a car, a person, or an animal, so that your alerts are more specific.

The distinctive design will either look stylish or incongruous depending on your property and exactly where it’s installed, but regardless of any issues with aesthetics, the Presence will certainly make itself felt, and hopefully make potential burglars think twice.

Read the full review: Netatmo Presence

2. Nest Cam Outdoor

Type: Outdoor IP camera | Resolution: 1080p | Footage recording: Cloud | Audio: Two-way

Nest’s stylish camera is backed up by the slickest companion app we’ve come across, while its Nest Aware service, which stores up to 30-days of footage in the cloud, is the most reliable and accessible around. The only problem is that it’s also the most expensive and without paying for a subscription, you cannot access all of the camera’s features.

The camera itself is very well specified, and for some folks, its integration with other Nest products, like the brand’s smart thermostat, is what will give this device an extra edge over the competition.

Read the full review: Nest Cam Outdoor

3. Arlo Q

Type: Indoor IP camera | Resolution: 1080p | Footage recording: Cloud | Audio: Two-way

With its smart, solid and compact design, the Arlo Q has instant appeal as a discrete security camera. And it’s backed up by the user-friendly Arlo app that enables you to access key features, like the push notification settings, with a minimum of fuss.

Our experience with getting the camera online didn’t go well and our Wi-Fi network struggled to stream its 1080p live view, but your mileage may well vary, and you might not find any such stumbling blocks. In which case, the overall usability of this product, combined with its relatively robust build quality and the generous seven-day free cloud storage plan, make this a good way to start protecting your property.

Read the full review: Arlo Q

4. Hikvision Ezviz Mini Plus

Type: Indoor IP camera | Resolution: 1080p | Footage recording: Cloud | Audio: Two-way

The Ezviz Mini Plus is a discrete and diminutive IP camera that’s simple to install and easy-to-use. And while it looks like an entry-level model, it’s actually the model up from the Ezviz Mini and offers 1080p resolution, adjustable motion sensitivity and a microSD card slot. It’s really only missing motion zone adjustment and object recognition.

The picture quality has poor contrast, but high detail with reasonable night vision. However, it’s a pity there’s no internal battery and no integration with Nest, SmartThings, or HomeKit.

Read the full review: Hikvision Ezviz Mini Plus

5. Foscam F19853EP

Type: Outdoor IP camera | Resolution: 720p | Footage recording: Local/cloud | Audio: None

For outdoor, around-the-clock sentry duty, a tough dome camera like this is a safe bet, especially when it’s supplied by one of the big hitters of the security industry.

You won’t find any of the fancy features you get with the new IP camera crowd – things like object recognition and motion zone detection – and the app looks downright basic compared to that of Nest or Netatmo. But this camera is built to last and it hits a remarkably competitive price point too.

Read the full review: Foscam F19853EP

• You can buy the Foscam F19853EP here

6. D-Link DCS-2530L

Type: Indoor IP camera | Resolution: 1080p | Footage recording: Local/cloud | Audio: Two-way

This little IP camera offers a simple and cost-effective springboard into the surveillance game, as it comes complete with local storage on a microSD card and a free app that makes it easy to monitor your property remotely. And by recording a wide 180-degree view whenever its motion sensor or mic are triggered, the DCS-2530L does its job quite well.

The plastic construction does feel a little vulnerable, however, and app support is decidedly less sophisticated than the competition, so we would advise spending just a little more if you’re serious about surveillance.

Source: TechRadar